Firewalls have become an essential part of every network that has access to the Internet. Without firewalls, anyone would be able to access your network and servers and infect them with malicious software. Properly configured, a firewall can substantially decrease undesirable network communications in a local network. Show
The article will explain how to create a firewall rule using firewall MMC and Windows PowerShell. We are using Windows Server 2012, but the procedure applies to other versions of Windows, with slight variations. What is a Firewall?A firewall is a piece of hardware or software that controls the flow of data packets, and it is critical on modern computer systems. It protects private networks and devices from malicious actions coming from public networks in the same way a physical firewall prevents fire from spreading from one area to another. A firewall acts as a defense mechanism which controls network traffic according to the implemented firewall rules. Computers behind a firewall cannot receive data until the data passes all filters. This enhances security by a large margin and reduces the risk of unauthorized access to private networks. A proper firewall configuration provides your system with a crucial layer of security and lowers the risk of successful hacking attacks. Firewalls can perform many tasks:
How Windows Server Firewalls WorkAs the name suggests, a firewall acts like a barrier between your local devices and the external network. When you send a connection request to your computer or server over the internet, a hacker can interrupt that connection and try to gain access to your private network. With a firewall in place, only the network traffic that matches firewall rules can get through. The sets of firewall rules you define in the firewall settings review every packet for flagged information. To make the most out of your firewall, you should precisely define both inbound and outbound rules in order to avoid any unwanted connections. For example, you can set an inbound rule defining that the data communicated through a specific port, such as TCP port 80, can pass the firewall. That means if the firewall sees a packet coming towards any other port, it will drop it and the data will not reach its intended destination. Windows Firewall Server 2012 with Advanced SecurityWindows Firewall with Advanced Security is the management console which stores all Windows Firewall configurations. Windows Firewall is a host-based firewall solution embedded with virtually all current Windows operating systems. Windows Firewall with Advanced Security provides safer inbound and outbound network communications by enforcing rules that control traffic flow for its local machine. There are three available firewall profiles:
The benefits of using Windows Server Firewall with Advanced Security are numerous:
What is the Difference between Windows Firewall and Windows Firewall with Advanced Security?The difference between the two is the level of functionality available to the end-user, that is, the interface itself. Both of them are the same firewall service. The Windows Firewall is easier to use and more consumer-friendly. It is located in the Control Panel and allows you to perform basic firewall configurations. The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security offers granular control over the inbound and outbound rules, as well as the default firewall profiles. You can modify all advanced firewall configurations using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) or Windows PowerShell. How to Launch Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Console?You can access the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console in a few different ways. Whichever method you choose, it will open Windows Firewall MMC where you can make further firewall configurations for all profiles.
Configure Windows FirewallNow that you have the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console open, in the middle you can see the summary of the three firewall profiles. Their default configuration is to permit the outgoing traffic and to limit incoming traffic. When you select an option from the menu on the left side of the window, you will see its details in the middle section. On the right side, the menu will show the available actions for the option you previously selected. The Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console allows you to configure inbound and outbound rules, as well as the Internet Protocol security (IPSec) connections. The Monitoring tab allows you to view the active firewall rules and connection security rules for that server. Firewall RulesWindows firewall rules allow you to state whether to permit or block specific incoming or outgoing network connections. You can choose between multiple parameters and settings for each individual inbound or outbound rule. This includes selecting a program, a TCP or UDP port, protocol, service, or profile that a rule will apply to. The procedure is the same when creating inbound rules and outbound rules with Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. I will list the steps for creating an inbound rule and you can follow them in the same order when you want to create an outbound rule. How to Create Inbound RulesLaunch the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security MMC using the method you prefer. You may want to pin the shortcut to the start menu if you use the console on a regular basis.
When you close the wizard, the rule will take effect immediately. You can find the rule in the firewall console when you click on the Inbound rules option. Enabled rules have green checkmark icon while disabled are with grey icons. How to Edit a Firewall RuleTo edit any existing rule and make additional configuration, open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console and select Inbound Rules or Outbound Rules option. Locate and click a rule to see the actions specific to it in the right pane. Select Properties and another window will load where you can edit the rule settings. You can also disable, cut, copy, or delete the rule you selected. Make sure you highlight the correct rule to avoid changing firewall configurations for wrong rules. Tip: you can double click a rule to directly open the Properties window. How to Create a Firewall Rule with Windows PowerShell1. Launch the PowerShell command line. You can do so by searching for “powershell” in the start menu, or press Win + R keys on your keyboard and type in “powershell” in the Run box. 2. Insert the following command and hit enter:
This is only one example of how to add a firewall rule using the Windows PowerShell command line. You can find more examples in the Microsoft PowerShell Documentation. Conclusion This article explains the basic functions and different types of firewall and details the steps for managing the Windows Server Firewall within the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security interface. The Windows Firewall Management Console is a powerful tool that allows for creating detailed configurations. If you carefully followed the instructions in the article, you are now able to manage the firewall on your Windows Server. How to configure Windows Firewall?Go to Start and open Control Panel. Select System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall. Choose Turn Windows Firewall on or off. Select Turn on Windows Firewall for domain, private, and public network settings.
Which Windows Firewall setting blocks all traffic except for any that has a specific rule to allow it?1 Answer. Thanks for your posting here. By default, Windows Defender Firewall allows all outbound network traffic unless it matches a rule that prohibits the traffic. By default, Windows Defender Firewall block all inbound network traffic unless it matches a rule that allow the traffic.
What does Windows Firewall protect against?A firewall can help protect your computer and data by managing your network traffic. It does this by blocking unsolicited and unwanted incoming network traffic. A firewall validates access by assessing this incoming traffic for anything malicious like hackers and malware that could infect your computer.
How to configure Windows Firewall for SQL Server?Configure Windows Firewall. Open Windows Control Panel and select System and Security.. From the System and Security window, click Windows Defender Firewall.. From the Windows Defender Firewall window, click Advanced Settings.. Add the port SQL uses for TCP. ... . From the New Inbound Rule Wizard, select Port. ... . Select TCP.. |